Victoria Berels
If you have applied early to one or more colleges, the decision letter you received might not have contained a final decision. Instead of being admitted or denied, you might be notified that you have been “deferred.” That means you have not been denied, and that’s good news, because it gives you a second chance to be admitted! Your deferred application will be reconsidered in the Regular Decision round of decision making. In some cases this means that you will now be reviewed with even fewer seats being offered, but not always.
It is easy to be disappointed by this news. However, after this initial disappointment is experienced, there are steps that you can take to help an admissions counselor reconsider your application. In this month’s series of articles, we will outline the steps you can take to have another chance at getting into your top choice school.
First, look over your application and identify places on your application that may have caused your application to look less competitive to an admissions officer. After this examination, you are ready to give the admissions counselor for your school district a call while keeping these Do’s and Don’ts in mind.
Do:
1. Ask why you were deferred
If you ask this question, you’ll know exactly what the points of concern were with your application. Moving forward, you can send a letter to the college explaining your endeavors in improving these areas and send new information specific to this improvement.
2. Reiterate your interest in the college
If you would accept a place in that college’s freshman class, be sure to express to the admissions officer that the college is your top choice. Have specific reasons why this university stands apart to you from all the rest.
Don’t
1. Complain to the admissions officer
Though it is important to convey that you were disappointed by the news, it’s important that this only drove you to work harder to improve your eligibility for a spot in the freshman class. Superficial or dramatic complaints may push an admissions officer even further away from the idea of granting you an admittance.
2. Get too upset
As your friends are accepted to various colleges, it may seem stressful or disappointing that your college plans are not solidified yet. Don’t sweat it! A deferral means you’re still in consideration and have another chance at getting into your top choice school. Until then, continue to follow our steps and schedule a meeting with Parros College Planning to determine the best plan of action to take.
